melting snowman cookies

The ORIGINAL melting snowman cookies! That’s right. This is the very first version of the now-traditional Christmas cookie, created by me in 2008.

melted snowman cookies

I’ve updated this post for melting snowman cookies several times since the original was published in 2008. I first came up with the idea when I spotted a melted snowman craft in a magazine. Since I made this Mr. Melty guy, he has gone viral (although, much to my dismay, the original hasn’t and no, I’ve received no windfall of riches. Or any riches at all, sigh). Melted snowman cookies are now considered a traditional Christmas cookie. I’ve seen them in magazines. Target has a kit. Wilton sells the cutters. A popular version uses a marshmallow head instead of the fondant head. My idea has been used all across the land, which is heart-warming. (Although, those taking credit for the idea is a little less heart-warming.)

Need more melting snowman ideas?

how to make melting snowman cookies

I’m melting, melting… Oh, poor snowman. If you don’t like the sentiment this expresses, you’ll see I’ve added the option of making your snowman smiley. That way, it will appear the snowman understands his inevitable demise and doesn’t mind so much the nature of things. You may also use a marshmallow instead of the fondant, if you wish.

shortcut tips:

In place of the fondant, you can use a marshmallow for the snowman head (and draw the face and carrot nose with the food coloring pens). You may also use candies for the buttons instead of fondant.

step one: bake your snowman base (the blob)

Roll out your dough and cut out a blob shape with a sharp knife. I drew my shape first on paper and cut around the paper. Don’t make the blob too big, about 4 inches. If the edges are rough from cutting, pat with your fingers to smooth. Bake on a parchment paper lined baking tray and let cool.

step two: frost your cookie base

Color some frosting with the Bright White gel paste and fill the bag with the 4 tip. Outline cookie with frosting and let set a good half hour. Take some frosting in a bowl, color white and add water, little by little, stirring until it’s syrupy. Pour the runny frosting onto the middle of the cookie and spread to the edges with a small spatula or butter knife. Let set til firm a good two hours, even longer if possible.

step three: make your snowman parts

Take a few teaspoons worth of fondant, knead (you can add a few drops of White coloring to brighten) and roll between your palms to form a sphere. If the fondant gets too sticky, let it sit for ten to fifteen minutes. Set on a piece of parchment or wax paper to harden for about an hour. Do the same with the carrot and buttons. Knead a small amount of fondant with the Orange color and form a triangle with your fingers. Set on the wax paper so the tip of the carrot points upward. Knead any color into fondant and roll small spheres for your buttons.

When the snowman head has dried til firm enough to write on, make your face with the black edible gourmet pen. Choose from smiley (happy about melting) to shock (not happy about melting).

step five: assemble your snowman

To adhere the fondant pieces to each other and to the cookie, dab your finger in light corn syrup and rub on the areas that will be adhered. Start with the head and press firmly but gently onto the blob. Next, attach the carrot to the face. Then the buttons. For the sticks, I used brown frosting in a bag fitted with a 2 tip and piped. But you can also just draw them on with a brown or black edible pen.

OTHER ideas for melted snowman cookies

Make a hat (Tint fondant black. Roll out and cut out a little circle. Roll a small ball, flatten the top and bottom and attach with a dab of corn syrup. Wrap a thin strip of colored fondant around the ball. Adhere to the top of the snowman head with corn syrup. Let dry overnight.)

Make a scarf (Roll out tinted fondant and cut a curvy scarf shape with a sharp knife. Cut little slices at the ends for fringe. Attach to the snowman with a dab of corn syrup.)

Make mittens (Do the same thing as for the scarf.)

Use sprinkles. I just used confetti sprinkles from the craft store for the buttons.

Candy instead of fondant. Instead of fondant, use candy to decorate. Use Tootsie Rolls for the hat, gum drops, or other candies to decorate, a fruit roll-up for the scarf…

This is the cutest thing – EVER. I had to call my mother in FL and made her go to foodgawker to show her. Cutest cookie I have EVER seen! What an imagination! I’ll be checking your blog from now on – Thanks for sharing!

Thanks so much for posting such great directions. I’ve always wanted to make cute iced sugar cookies, but have never had any success. I made these and they turned out perfect! I will be checking back soon and rushing to buy your book!

The melting snowman…pure cookie genius. Although my kids would insist upon making it a witch and making it in my likeness(just a coincidence, mom, really), the snowman stole my heart! I wish you could have won some sort of financial applause. At least you know you’re a cookie genius.

I love this cookie with all my heart!! I realize it is supposed to be a Christmas cookie but I am tempted to try it just before the temperatures reach triple digits… again… here in Arizona. Just adorable!

I shouldn’t be surprised they started with you! Thanks for another great idea! I “found” the idea and made them last Christmas for the church party. They are soo cute! I found little plastic black top hats at Hobby Lobby 40% off that fit mine PERFECTLY and were tooooo adorable. Wish I could post a pic here!

This is the most creative cookies I’ve ever seen. I love Mr. Melty. Can’t wait to make them. I know they will be a huge hit no matter where I bring them for the holidays. They actually make me smile to see them. Thank you for sharing, a truly BRILLANT IDEA!!!!

Hey, isn’ there are way to copyright stuff…kinda like intellectual property??? I know, hard to prove or prosecute. As I tell my boys (when a younger sibling copies their ideas), take it as a compliment–which I am sure you do. But, I agree: it would be nice to have a little silver to jingle in your pocket and a little pat on the back. Too bad RR magazine didn’t at least gave you kuddos (though she might have stolen it from another melty imposter).
Your ideas are great! My recreations don’t look as good (that is why I sit here and you sit there). Keep up the great work!

Seriously, this is one of my favorite cookies ever and I hate that people don’t give you credit for it. I was in Target today and saw that they had a kit to make them…please tell me some of that comes your way….it better or I’ll park myself in front of the rest of them and show people your website!!!!

I found pictures of melted snowman cookies on Pinterest and simply had to see where they originated. Google is a fabulous thing, as it brought me here. These are adorable. (I did re-pin the picture on Pinterest that used marshmallows for the heads, but added the link to your site in the description.) Thank you for sharing!

I found something similar on Pinterest, but the recipe used a marshmallow for the head. Nothing against marshmallows but I really don’t care for them. Started a search for a substitute for the head of the snowman and happened upon a picture and link to your website. I don’t usually comment, but after reading your story had to tell you-The Original Mr. Melty-is the best looking cookie of the bunch. Sorry it went viral with the knock off and no credit to you.

Thank you so much Sue! The melting snow man is not in the book, but lots of other things are, I promise. 🙂 These cookies will last up to a week (if kept in a sealed container.) I do freeze decorated cookies with great success, but I would freeze only the bottoms of these, not the heads (that sounds like an odd thing to say!). To freeze cookies, I put them in freezer ziplocs. To thaw, remove the ziplocs from the freezer and keep at room temp until totally thawed, THEN remove them from the bags.